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NRCC PRESS RELEASE: “ASHWIN MADIA KEEPING CASH FROM SCANDAL PLAGUED POLITICIAN, PROVES HE’S NOT AGENT OF CHANGE”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | September 8, 2008
Washington- Ethically-embattled New York Rep. Charlie Rangel has certainly had a scandal-plagued summer of shame. Just this week it was revealed that Rangel failed to declare $75,000 in rental income on his posh tropical vacation villa.
“‘Charlie Rangel is the designated leader on tax policy in the Democrat-led Congress, but while he is authoring massive tax hikes to exact on middle-class Americans, he is apparently dodging the IRS at all costs,’ said Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.” (New York Post, 9/6/08)
Not only have Rangel’s questionable activities sparked a House Ethics Committee inquiry, but now the National Legal and Policy Center has filed a complaint with the Justice Department to investigate Rangel’s dealings.
But amidst his growing list of questionable activities, Rangel took the time this summer to raise truck loads of campaign cash for some of his favorite Democrat recruits under the guise of a birthday bash:
- Dan Seals (IL-10) $41,217.45
- Dan Maffei (NY-25) $57,670.25
- Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) $39,788.93
- John Boccieri (OH-16) $44,200.45
- Linda Stender (NJ-07) $51,062.79
- Ashwin Madia (MN-03) $35,537.61
- Eric Massa (NY-29) $39,922.54
- Michael McMahon (NY-13) $46,582.68
- Walter Minnick (ID-01) $39,158.73
- Jon Powers (NY-26) $42,700.55
Now these same Democrat candidates are spewing rhetoric about wanting to “change Washington,” while they’re already partying with a scandal-scarred Congressman who also happens to be Washington’s most notorious tax-hiker.
By keeping Rangel’s cash, Ashwin Madia is admitting he’ll do anything it takes to win — even if it means associating with an entrenched, ethically-challenged New York politician who’s part of the reason Congress has a nine percent approval rating. If sent to DC, Ashwin Madia will only serve as an enabler of business as usual in Washington. That’s not change.
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This is a reminder that I am a part-time research consultant to Erik Paulsen for Congress. Minnesota Democrats Exposed is my personal blog and it is not created, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidate’s committee.
Topics: Ashwin Madia, Uncategorized | 24 Comments »
September 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Paulsen must be in real trouble for you to be posting on this race.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I just love Charlie Rangel……
September 8th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Must have forgotten about the VECO money Coleman hasn’t returned yet. Also, the funniest line was:
Um, weren’t you at the RNC, Michael? All of them were saying that. LOL.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
AshLOSE is getting beat and everyone knows it. The DFL worms would have had a far easier time with that airhead senator.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
AshLOSE has no plans, no record, no brains. Loser.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
How come Paulsen’s website says:
“No items contained the text “iraq”.”
Oh, well. When Boner and Blunt tell Paulsen what Paulsen’s position is, I’m sure Paulsen will post it…..
September 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Rangel is a sterling example of a Democrat politician, Mike. But you have to admit that he at least hasn’t been connected to any fleecings of children’s charities…like Porn-O-Rama has.
That’s what the Democrat party means when it says things are not always black and white….when it comes to Democrats, there’s stealing, and there’s scumbag stealing.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Seriously, is Paulsen even running anymore? Not a single update from his campaign since early August? No scheduled events? No press releases despite there’s been a debate and at least one disclosure report?
Is this the type of public out-reach we can expect from Paulsen if he was elected?
He’s clearly getting out out-worked in this race and I suspect the election will reflect that fact.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I know it must be scary when a candidate with an actual vision for the future steps forth to challenge your appointed candidate, who has yet to formulate a position on any issue other than then one about wanting to be a member of congress. I swear, Prissy and Eric are running identical campaigns. Trying to convince the voters that their desire for the job is more important than what they would do with it if elected.
The voters I have talked to in the 3rd are assuming from Paulsen’s lack of positions that he must be trying to hide the fact that he is much father right than the Rammer. The voters out there don’t take well to far right. And when given an alternative that is a centrist, with military experience and a real passion for politics, it will only be a matter of time before Eric Paulsen can give up this charade and get back to focusing on trying to re-win his seat in the Minnesota House.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I’ve yet to see one Madia lawn sign, and have only seen one Madia bumper sticker. On the other hand, I see tons of Paulson yard signs, and I drive through different sections of the 3rd District on a daily basis.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
“left is nuts”….what streets are you driving? Maybe if you realized the 3rd extends beyond the affluent neighborhoods, you’d see the growing sea of Madia for Congress signs and bumper stickers. And Michael, why admit that you’re full time on Paulsen’s payroll (if you’re not, tell the rest of us how to get paid that well for slinging bull…. all day)!
September 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Wow.. I’m disappointed in Madia.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I saw my first Paulsen yard sign yesterday in Wayzata on a deadend side street. 1500 Madia signs are now out in the past week (20 of them in my immediate area — several on our street in front of houses which have never put up signs before). I see Madia bumper stickers on a daily basis — in parking malls, school parking lots, on the road. (I did see one Paulsen bumper sticker when a car tailed me on 694, passed me, pulled in front and slammed on his brakes.)
Neighbors and relatives who have only voted Republican in the past are supporting Madia — with money and signs. I’ve actually been amazed at the outpouring of support from different ages and professions. This is the most excitement I’ve seen over a “local” candidate in my long life.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Here is my question to all of you Republicans. How on Earth are the REPUBLICANS going to bringe change? You are first off admitting that the country needs change from the current politics and policies by campaigning on this message so thanks for jumping on the bandwagon, we’ve been bitching about the horrible damage Bush has been doing for years now. Thanks for finally coming around to that fact.
But why should anyone trust YOU to bring change to this country, you guys were the ones who lead it into the shitter in the first place!
September 8th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Andrew –
In the words of Rudy Guliani, “change” is not a destination.
I can think of about 100 ways our nation’s policy could change. Many are good, many would be very bad.
Changes in a way that permanently makes our federal government larger and saddles our future generations with costs that cannot possibly be paid given demographic changes are, well, bad.
Changes in a way that enables people to achieve their potential while having some help from the Govt to get them to the starting line are, well, good.
What you may not understand is that many Republicans feel we’ve drifted from old fashioned Republican principles. I’d rather get those back then start voting for a liberal approach to the world.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Andrew, Democrats delivered us to the shitter. Blame yourself. No one else.
Democrats allowed terrorists to train for 9/11. Democrats knew about airport security lapses (Gore), but did nothing about them. Democrats brought us most of the intelligence that Iraq had WMDs. Democrats helped authorize the war. Democrats delivered a recession in early 2001. Under Democrats corporate corruption reached an all time hight.
The last 8 years have been an ugly process of cleaning up the mess Democrats led us into.
Barak, the EEOC candidate, promises more of the same, socialist, Jimmy Carter failed politics that have delivered all of the worst times in American history.
That’s change all right. But it’s change that nobody needs.
Eh, who knows. Barak Obama has never accomplished anything in his life anyway. He’s and EEOC candidate, nothing more. Maybe if he becomes president, his one term will be as lackluster and filled with failure as every other position of responsibility he’s occupied.
Hell, he even dug up Biden as his running mate. If that doesn’t prove the point that Obama can’t deliver “change,” nothing will.
Barak Obama, EEOC candidate. If it weren’t for the soft bigotry of low expectations, he’d be flipping burgers…
September 8th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
On another note, Andrew. There is only ONE candidate for president right now that has a proven track record of bringing about change… a track record of bringing opposing sides together to achieve great things based on shared interest. There’s only one candidate that can prove he has the goods… his name is John McCain.
John McCain is the right man. Barak Obama, EEOC candidate, is a goddam joke.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I don’t concur w/ Obama being an “EEOC” candidate. Obama is a bright guy and gifted communicator. But he is not even close to being the best person to lead America right now.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I’ve yet to see one Paulsen lawn sign, and have only seen one Paulsen bumper sticker. On the other hand, I see tons of Madia yard signs, and I drive through different sections of the 3rd District on a daily basis.
I hear the demand for Madia lawn signs is incredible. I guess the people of the Third District are serious about a big shakeup in Washington D.C.
Madia: We are building it brick by brick
September 8th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Chestnut is right.
John McCain is truly an agent of change. Just look at the positions he held in his first campaign versus the positions he holds now. If one man can totally change all of his beliefs to more closely align with George Bush in only eight years, imagine how far he can move from all the campaign promises he is making now if he were to be elected.
That isn’t the type of change America wants.
And it takes a truly small minded racist prick to look at the campaign Obama has run and declare it a EEOC campaign. I would encourage Chestnut to embrace change and stop being such a small-minded racist prick.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Affluent neighborhoods? Hmmmmmmmmmm, interesting that starter homes are considered affluent.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:13 am
All Paulsen signs on the drive and bike ride that I normally do.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:58 am
And it takes a truly small minded racist pricks to look at Obama and declare him prepared for the Presidency. They chose him for the color of his skin, not the content of his character or the quality of his ideas. I would encourage Democrats to embrace change and stop being such a small-minded racist pricks.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Let’s get back to PAC money….Paulsen want’s to eliminate PAC money while he’s in the legislature, then he takes over $107,000 from Big Oil, Big Pharma, Insurance, Banking…this is so he can buy his visibility (billboards). Madia has energized so many voters that they are clamoring to get his signs in their yards. As more and more people hear about him and meet him, the first question is how can I help elect him, can I get a sign? Grassroots for the Patriot will overcome the Corporate Politician Paulsen, and you can take that to the Bank! By the way, billboards don’t vote, but homeowner’s putting up Madia signs DO!